[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6054 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 6054

    To establish a United States Human Rights Commission to monitor 
compliance by the United States with international human rights treaty 
                              obligations.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 14, 2008

 Mr. Delahunt introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                      Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    To establish a United States Human Rights Commission to monitor 
compliance by the United States with international human rights treaty 
                              obligations.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Human Rights Commission Act of 
2007''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION.

    There is established a commission to be known as the ``Human Rights 
Commission'' (in this Act referred to as the ``Commission'').

SEC. 3. DUTY OF HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION.

    The Commission shall monitor the compliance by the United States 
with all international human rights treaties to which the United States 
is a party (including all such treaties to which the United States 
becomes a party at any time after the date of the enactment of this 
Act), including the following:
            (1) The Convention to Suppress the Slave Trade and Slavery 
        (September 25, 1926, as amended by the Protocol of December 7, 
        1953).
            (2) The Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the 
        Crime of Genocide (December 9, 1948).
            (3) The Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners 
        of War (August 12, 1949).
            (4) The Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian 
        Persons in Time of War (August 12, 1949).
            (5) The Convention on the Political Rights of Women 
        (December 20, 1952).
            (6) The Supplementary Convention on the Abolition of 
        Slavery, the Slave Trade, and Institutions and Practices 
        Similar to Slavery (September 7, 1956).
            (7) The Abolition of Forced Labour Convention of June 25, 
        1957 (ILO Convention 105).
            (8) The International Convention on the Elimination of All 
        Forms of Racial Discrimination (December 21, 1965).
            (9) The International Covenant on Civil and Political 
        Rights (December 16, 1966).
            (10) The Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees 
        (January 31, 1967).
            (11) The Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, 
        Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (December 10, 
        1984).
            (12) The Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention (June 17, 
        1999) (ILO Convention 182).
            (13) The Supplementary Convention on the Abolition of 
        Slavery, the Slave Trade, and Institutions and Practices 
        Similar to Slavery (September 7, 1956).
            (14) The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights 
        of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflicts 
        (May 25, 2000).
            (15) The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights 
        of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and 
        child pornography (May 25, 2000).
            (16) The Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition 
        of the Wounded and Sick in the Armed Forces in the Field 
        (August 12, 1949).
            (17) The Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition 
        of Wounded, Sick and Shipwrecked Members of Armed Forces at Sea 
        (August 12, 1949).
            (18) The Inter-American Convention on the Granting of 
        Political Rights to Women (May 2, 1948).
            (19) The Inter-American Convention on the Nationality of 
        Women (December 26, 1933).

SEC. 4. COMMISSION MEMBERSHIP.

    (a) Selection and Appointment of Members.--The Commission shall be 
composed of 18 members, as follows:
            (1) Nine Members of the House of Representatives appointed 
        by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Five Members 
        shall be selected from the majority party and four Members 
        shall be selected, after consultation with the minority leader 
        of the House of Representatives, from the minority party. The 
        nine Members shall include the Chairman and Ranking Minority 
        Member of the Subcommittee on International Organizations, 
        Human Rights, and Oversight of the Committee on Foreign Affairs 
        and the Chairman and Ranking Minority Member of the 
        Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border 
        Security, and International Law of the Committee on the 
        Judiciary.
            (2) Nine Members of the Senate appointed by the President 
        of the Senate. Five Members shall be selected from the majority 
        party of the Senate, after consultation with the majority 
        leader, and four Members shall be selected, after consultation 
        with the minority leader of the Senate, from the minority 
        party. The nine Members shall include the Chairman and Ranking 
        Minority Member of the Subcommittee on International Operations 
        and Organizations, Democracy and Human Rights of the Committee 
        on Foreign Relations and the Chairman and Ranking Minority 
        Member of the Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law of the 
        Committee on the Judiciary.
    (b) Commission Chairman and Co-Chairman.--
            (1) In general.--The Commission shall have a Chairman and a 
        Co-Chairman.
            (2) Designation of chairman.--
                    (A) House of representatives.--Not later than 30 
                days after the convening of each even-numbered 
                Congress, the Speaker of the House of Representatives 
                shall designate one of the House Members who is a 
                member of the Commission as Chairman of the Commission.
                    (B) Senate.--Not later than 30 days after the 
                convening of each odd-numbered Congress, the President 
                of the Senate, on the recommendation of the majority 
                leader, shall designate one of the Senate Members who 
                is a member of the Commission as Chairman of the 
                Commission.
            (3) Designation of co-chairman.--
                    (A) House of representatives.--Not later than 30 
                days after the convening of each odd-numbered Congress, 
                the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall 
                designate one of the House Members who is a member of 
                the Commission as Co-Chairman of the Commission.
                    (B) Senate.--Not later than 30 days after the 
                convening of each even-numbered Congress, the President 
                of the Senate, on the recommendation of the majority 
                leader, shall designate one of the Senate Members who 
                is a member of the Commission as Co-Chairman of the 
                Commission.
            (4) Term of office.--The term of office of a Chairman and 
        Co-Chairman shall terminate on the date that a Congress 
        adjourns sine die.

SEC. 5. TESTIMONY OF WITNESSES; PRODUCTION OF EVIDENCE; ISSUANCE OF 
              SUBPOENAS; ADMINISTRATION OF OATHS.

    In carrying out its duty under section 3, the Commission may 
require, by subpoena or otherwise, the attendance and testimony of such 
witnesses and the production of such evidence, including books, 
records, correspondence, memorandums, papers, and documents, as it 
determines necessary. Subpoenas may be issued only pursuant to a two-
thirds vote of the members of the Commission who are present and 
voting. Upon such a vote, subpoenas may be issued by the Chairman of 
the Commission or by any member designated by the Chairman, and may be 
served by any person designated by the Chairman or such member. The 
Chairman of the Commission, or any member designated by the Chairman, 
may administer oaths to any witnesses.

SEC. 6. REPORT BY SECRETARY OF STATE TO COMMISSION.

    (a) Annual Report.--In order to assist the Commission in carrying 
out its duty under section 3, the Secretary of State shall annually 
submit to the Commission a report that explains how the United States 
has complied with its international human rights treaty obligations 
over the preceding calendar year.
    (b) Contents of Report.--The report required under subsection (a) 
shall include a discussion of any concerns raised regarding the United 
States in international organizations charged with monitoring 
compliance with international human rights treaties.
    (c) Time for Submission of Report.--The Secretary shall submit the 
report not later than March 31 of each year.
    (d) Public Dissemination.--The Secretary shall ensure that each 
annual report, excluding any classified annexes, is posted on the 
website of the Department of State not later than April 1 of each year.

SEC. 7. REPORTS BY COMMISSION TO CONGRESS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than January 31 of each year, the 
Commission shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the 
Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives and 
Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on the Judiciary of 
the Senate a report regarding the compliance by the United States of 
its obligations under international human rights treaties.
    (b) Request for Additional Information.--The Commission shall, upon 
request by any Member of the House of Representatives or any Member of 
the Senate, provide such Member with any additional information so 
requested pertaining to the compliance by the United States of its 
obligations under international human rights treaties.
    (c) Expenditure of Appropriations.--Not later than January 15 of 
each fiscal year for which an appropriation is made to the Commission 
to carry out its duty under section 3, the Commission shall submit to 
Congress a report on its expenditures under such appropriation.

SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the 
Commission for each fiscal year such sums as may be necessary to enable 
it to carry out its duty under section 3.
    (b) Availability.--Amounts appropriated pursuant to the 
authorization of appropriations under paragraph (1) are authorized to 
remain available until expended.
    (c) Disbursement.--Amounts appropriated to the Commission shall be 
disbursed on vouchers approved--
            (1) jointly by the Chairman and the Co-Chairman; or
            (2) by a majority of the members of the personnel and 
        administration committee established under section 9.

SEC. 9. COMMISSION STAFF.

    (a) Staff Director; Senior Staff Person.--The Chairman shall be 
entitled to appoint and fix the pay of a staff director, and the Co-
Chairman shall be entitled to appoint and fix the pay of the senior 
staff person of the Co-Chairman.
    (b) Professional Staff Members.--The Chairman and Co-Chairman each 
shall have the authority to appoint and fix the pay of at least four 
professional staff members who shall be responsible to the Chairman or 
the Co-Chairman, as the case may be, who appointed them. Such authority 
may be delegated to the staff director or senior staff person, as the 
case may be.
    (c) Staff Appointments.--All staff appointments shall be made 
without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, 
governing appointments in the competitive service, and without regard 
to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of 
such title relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates, 
except that the rate of pay may not exceed the maximum rate of pay for 
GS-15 under the General Schedule.
    (d) Commission Employees as Congressional Employees.--For purposes 
of pay and other employment benefits, rights, and privileges, and for 
all other purposes, any employee of the Commission shall be considered 
to be a congressional employee as defined in section 2107 of title 5, 
United States Code.
    (e) Qualifications of Professional Staff.--The personnel and 
administration committee shall ensure that the professional staff of 
the Commission consists of persons with expertise in civil rights, 
prisoner rights, labor rights, law, international law, and human 
rights.

SEC. 10. PRINTING AND BINDING COSTS.

    For purposes of costs relating to printing and binding, including 
the costs of personnel detailed from the Government Printing Office, 
the Commission shall be deemed to be a committee of Congress.
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